Creative Writing graduate wins Elizabeth Jolley Prize

Announced at Gleebooks in Sydney on October 28, the Australian Book Review-run competition saw ‘Leaving Elvis’ beat out 1200 other entries, including co-shortlisted stories Rebekah Clarkson’s ‘The Five Truths of Manhood’ and Kim Mahood’s ‘The Accident’.

Ms Michau-Crawford received $5000 for the win, presented by internationally acclaimed Australian novelist David Malouf.

Judges of the Award described the award-winning story as “a story of regret and adolescent memories – a story containing a relinquished baby – and the pain of silence” and praised Michelle’s character development.

“I am so excited about the award, and it is great to get the confidence boost from others liking your writing,” Dr Michau-Crawford said.

Dr Michau-Crawford said ‘Leaving Elvis’ was adapted from the work submitted for her Honours degree at Murdoch.

“I originally wrote the piece with a far stronger sense of place but I wanted to explore the freedom created by taking it out of the story,” she said.

Dr Michau-Crawford first ventured into writing when raising young children up in the Pilbara.

“I used to go to the local library and the librarian would try to source books that I would enjoy,” she said.

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